The Partition Project: Chapters 5–12

by Saadia Faruqi
Growing up in America, middle-schooler Mahnoor knows little of her Pakistani heritage. Dadi, her Pakistani grandmother, comes to visit and shares with Mahnoor her own childhood, passing on her lived experience of the Partition of India and Pakistan.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–12, Chapters 13–23, Chapters 24–30, Chapters 31–39
15 words 9 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. squelch
    suppress or crush completely
    This class is supposed to be fun, I tell myself. Nobody cares if I make a terrible video.
    I squelch the little voice inside me that says I care, Mahnoor!
  2. partition
    separation by the creation of a boundary that divides
    Mahnoor: What do you mean? Who created Pakistan? When?
    Rafia: It was during the Partition, of course. How could it be anything else?
  3. shalwar
    a pair of loose-fitting pants commonly worn in parts of Asia
    We’d roll up the legs of our shalwars, and wrap our dupattas around our waists, and then we’d run.
  4. sahib
    a title of respect for men in colonial India
    Maulvi sahib—the old man who led the prayers—stood there watching out for us. We’d touch the wall, and then run all the way back.
  5. prohibited
    forbidden by law
    Sausage is prohibited, unless it says “kosher” on the box.
  6. kosher
    conforming to the dietary laws of Judaism
    Sausage is prohibited, unless it says “kosher” on the box.
    Kosher is like halal for Jews.
  7. roti
    flat pancake-like bread cooked on a griddle
    She always smelled like fresh roti, just taken from the stove. She was the queen of the kitchen, and nobody could touch a thing there without her permission.
  8. biryani
    an Indian dish made with highly seasoned rice and meat, fish, or vegetables
    "Your sisters would want me to cook biryani, but you’d always ask for pullao.”
  9. pretentious
    intended to attract notice and impress others
    Dadi scowls. “I can cook better food at home.”
    “Oh, but you don’t have to,” Ammi insists. “There’s really no need.”
    “Besides,” Dadi continues like Ammi didn’t say anything, “what kind of name is Himalaya? They sound like pretentious fools.”
  10. interloper
    someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another
    I’m a facts person, and the fact is, Dadi is an interloper.
  11. samosa
    fried Indian turnover filled with vegetables or meat
    A man wearing an apron is handing out plates of samosas with chutney.
  12. chutney
    a spicy relish usually made with fruit, vinegar, and spices
    A man wearing an apron is handing out plates of samosas with chutney.
  13. subcontinent
    a large, distinct landmass that is part of a larger landmass
    After ruling the Indian subcontinent for three hundred years, the British finally left in August 1947, dividing the area into two countries before their departure: Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.
  14. sheepishly
    in a manner showing embarrassment or shame
    “You weren’t listening to a word I said,” she accuses me.
    “Sorry,” I say sheepishly.
  15. coexist
    live together peacefully, as of nations
    Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Zoroastrians—so many religions coexisted peacefully in the Indian subcontinent, but suddenly, they wanted separate countries for us.
Created on Wed Jul 01 15:34:26 EDT 2026 (updated Mon Aug 03 17:58:23 EDT 2026)

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